Water-wheel



(No Model.)

F. TRUMP.

WATER WHEEL.

No. 447,850. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

FULLER TRUMP, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,850, dated March10, 1891. Application filed October 29, 1890. Serial No. 369,737. (Nomodel.)

useful improvements in water-wheels.

The invention has for its object to provide a means of supporting thegate-operating ring or annulus in a manner involving a minimum amount offriction; and it consists, essentially, of a ring and of gates havingarms whose outer ends compose the arc of a circle struck from the centerof the gate-pivots, whereby when the ring is operated to adjust thegates it rolls or travels on the equivalent of numerous anti-frictionrollers, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andon which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1represents a side elevation of a water-wheel embodying my invention,with a part of the casing and ring in section; Fig. 2, an elevationalview of the wheel, looking toward the water=entrance side, with a partof the casing and with the ring in section; Fig. 3, a detail perspectiveview of a gate with one form of arm; and Fig. 4, a similar View of thepreferred form.

The water wheelA, of any approved or wellknown type of wheels of thischaracter, is mounted upon a shaft B, having bearings in the dischargepipes or fiumes O, and inclosed in a casing D. The flumes are bolted orotherwise secured to the casing, and the casing is preferablyconstructed in vertical halves and bolted together, as shown. Within theeasing and all around the periphery of the wheel are pivotally mounted anumber of gates E,

which control the admission of water from the casing to the wheel. Aconvenient mannerof so mountingv said gates is the provision of anannulus F, secured within the casin g at either side, as shown in Fig.2. The pivot-rod G of the gates has bearings in these annuli. Each gateis provided with an outwardly-extending arm H, the outward end of thearm being fashioned in the arc of a circle whose center At I in Figs. 1and 3 it will be seen that the gate-arm is provided with gear-teethforming the segment of a gear instead of the segment of a wheel orpulley, as in the other example shown in Fig. 1. The ring J foroperating the gates is mounted upon these arms, the arms acting asmovable supports for the same. If the arms of the gates are toothed, thering will be correspondingly toothed, as shown in Fig. 1, and if thearms be but segments of a pulley or wheel then some other convenientform of connection between the ring and such arms will be provided. InFig.

'1 I have illustrated a link K pivoted toa lug on the ring and to thearm H of the gate. In either case it will be seen that upon moving thering in a circular direction the gates will turn on their pivots and beadjusted to open or shut position, while the arms will act asanti-friction rollers for the ring, since they will move with the ringas distinguished from the ring sliding frictionally on them. Thus thering is supported by the equivalent of so many anti-friction rollers.

A suitable device for operating the ring consists of a rod L, mounted ina stuffing-box, and a lug M on the casing, and connected with aprojection O on the ring, and having a thumb-screw P fitted upon itsthreaded end. In this manner the ring is adjusted back and forth.

In water wheels having numerous gates which must be held in adjustedpositions, and adjusted from one position to another, a ring connectedwith them must be of considerable weight and mustbe strongly mounted.When grit and sand get between the ring and its bearings great frictionis produced, particularly should said fittings afford, as they usuallydo, crevices in which the sand can pack. It is to overcome suchobjection and to reduce the friction, and therefore lessen the labor ofmanipulating the ring that my invention is designed. It also preventssevere wear and tear on the ring and its fittings incident to friction.

To prevent the ring from becoming dismounted from the gate arms, it maybe arms and connected with said gates, whereby upon moving the ring toadjust the gates the ring rides on the arms as upon anti-frictionrollers.

2. In a water-Whee1, the combination, with a casing proper and asuitable wheel mounted therein, of aseries of gates pivotally mountedand having each an arm whose outer end constitutes the are of a circle,and the operatingring mounted upon said arms, and a link connectionbetween said ring and said gates, whereby upon operating the ring toadjust the arms it is moved on the gate-pivots, so that the arms actlike anti-friction rollers in their support of the ring.

3. In a waterwheel, the combination, with the casing and a suitablewheel mounted therein, of a series of pivoted gates having arms whoseouter ends constitute the are of a circle, a grooved ring mounted uponsaid arms, a connection between said ring and each gate, and adjustingdevices to manipulate the rin In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

FULLER TRUMP.

\Vitnesses:

W ARREN HULL, II. M. PLAISTED.

